Tomb of Senior Ming Dynasty Official Discovered in Chongqing

The Chongqing Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (重庆市文物考古所) recently announced the discovery of a tomb in Banan District (巴南区) thought to be the final resting place of a senior Ming Dynasty official and his wife. The archaeologists working at the site have speculated that the tomb is that of Li Wenjin (李文进), who held the position of Vice Censor-in-Chief during the reign of the Jiajing (嘉靖) emperor.

Bai Jiujiang (白九江), Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, explained that they were able to trace the location of the Ming Dynasty tomb thanks to reports they received about the discovery of stone horse and sheep statues at Shimawan (石马湾) in the village of Zitongba (梓桐坝村) in Maliuzui (麻柳嘴), Banan District. Excavations were carried at the Shimawan site and these revealed a Ming Dynasty tomb on a slope along the right bank of the Changjiang (长江)…